[Senator1]

THE Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will introduce a new rank for commissioned officers next year, the first time it has done so in its 43-year history.

The new Senior Lieutenant-Colonel rank will designate those who have been tapped for higher appointments in the army, navy and air force.

The insignia for the new rank will be two SAF crests and a braid.

Lieutenant-Colonels, who wear two SAF crests, will have to attain the new rank before they can be promoted to Colonel.

Images of the new rank insignia were first shown in SAF recruitment advertisements which appeared in print and other advertisements last Thursday.

Eagle-eyed readers who spotted the insignia and were puzzled by it then wrote to The Straits Times to find out more.

There has also been much online chatter about how the new rank will alter the career tracks of SAF officers.

Responding to queries from The Straits Times, the Defence Ministry confirmed that the new rank will be rolled out next July.

The new rank is among sweeping changes to the SAF's employment schemes for regulars, including a key one that will raise the retirement age for officers to 50, unveiled in May to make serving in the military a more attractive and rewarding career option.

Military analysts were surprised by the move to introduce a new rank within the current nine-rank structure of the officer corps - one that was initially modelled on that of the British military.

Few militaries in the world have a variant of the Senior Lieutenant-Colonel rank. Among them are the armed forces of China, Vietnam and North Korea.

Dr Tim Huxley, executive director of the Singapore-based International Institute for Strategic Studies, said the move baffled him.

'The rank structure is already complicated enough, said Dr Huxley, who has written a book on the SAF, entitled Defending The Lion City: The Armed Forces Of Singapore.

'I just don't see how injecting an additional rank helps.'

Several officers contacted by The Straits Times said they had been briefed on the details of the new rank at the beginning of the year, along with other changes to an officer's career track.

There are about 4,000 commissioned officers serving in the SAF now.

An army lieutenant-colonel who did not want to be named said the newly created rank would give some officers who choose not to assume higher command appointments the opportunity to specialise as chief trainers.

He said: 'At the same time, they can still be rewarded for the more complex roles that come with their job.'

[SugarFree]

only in singapore.....

[Senator1]

rank inflation like north korea and burma

[ValkyrieLenneth]

Originally Posted by Senator1

Few militaries in the world have a variant of the Senior Lieutenant-Colonel rank. Among them are the armed forces of China, Vietnam and North Korea.

we need so many officers to manage small amt of soldiers?

[Senator1]

too many officers to feed....

[jus4lucky]

This is jus to make the army look good in name. Make it professional to people wilh variant of ranks.
But the real concern is to make the officer feel proud and honour to wear the uniform. The old type of uniform was good aldy but change it with the insignial now wearing in front. To show how high they are and made sure ppl see it. Very redundant i think.

[May_Tay]

Originally Posted by Senator1

too many officers to feed....

[shypineapple]

this is so lame. -.-''
I guess they need to keep the senior officers in, as many are thinking of leaving the force. lmao =x

[theliverevoluti]

The general perception is that the military is not a good place to establish a career. A lot of males don't wish to sign on with the military, despite a lot of benefits that have been thrown in already. Also, a lot of regulars are poached by external agencies after a while.

I guess this move would allow current officers to get promoted quicker in rank but slower in responsibilities. Every rank increase demands a certain expectation from that rank, and the higher you go, the more responsibilities you receive, and the jump can be quite a lot.
Furthermore, this is going to be an intermediate between LTC to a full COL. They can't afford to make any mistakes when they promote, yet there are a few blunders being made here and there and this is one of the transition stages that most blunders are made. Probably the rank would allow the LTCs to be prmoted for their work, yet take on less responsibilities then a COL, and allow them to cope with a higher workload

[Huaikong]

another way to introduce a higher new pay scale......

[Emolisher]

They are introducing our government structure

[mic1838]

More ranks equals more chances for promotion...

[Peuan Sanit]

After serving for a period of time, it would be demoralising if one cannot get promoted. SAF had also introduced Specialist ranks recently.

SPF also introduced ranks like SGT, Sr Staff Sgt, SI 1, SI 2 & SI 3 for its Jr officers in the 1990's

[typeX]

Yeahh.. big difference. Just another paper officer holding a paper rank. call them whatever, senior mentor Lt Col even.. same cake different look.

[freeprice]

lol hav to pay more income tax loh

[doobiedoo]

Senior mentor Lt. Col, i like the way you put it.

[Keroyi]

lol... meaning more budget required for them

[plastique]

there's also the WOSE joke on the lance corporal general (the rank small act big nsf)

[Sens]

First there is the 3rd warrant rank....now got senior LTC.......wondering what will come next

[Keroyi]

also another way to increase those people who salary hit the ceiling, now one more post to climb to can justify pay raise